(For Parts I and II read previous posts. We are celebrating my one year blog anniversary. For some reason, I don’t want to call it a blogiversary. What’s wrong with me?)

I walked past the family room, where the karaoke party was starting to get wild, and walked into the kitchen. There sat Zinnia discussing the latest installment of her novel with Michele. I wondered if she had finally seen the second season of Six Feet Under. Of course, I had never seen the first season, so I’m ot sure why this mattered to me.

Hillbilly Mama was also in the kitchen whipping up some chex mix. She couldn’t see very well so she clapped three times to turn on the lights. We heard a hollow knock three times coming from the walls. The hair stood up on the back of our necks. “EEEEEEEEE” “I think it’s Uncle Jerry,” I explained.

Sarcasmom arrived, apologizing for being late. She had come from watching the Blog Olympics, and was delayed when her car hit one of those people shoving a donation bucket in your face at a major intersection. Thank goodness the injuries turned out to be minor. We lectured the kids against fund-raising that way.

PK rushed in with a big plate of cheese and Branston pickel sandwhiches. “Sorry I’m late, sugarpea.” She had the most beautiful eyes. I offered her something to drink and she told me she would like a TheraFlu with one of those little drink umbrellas on top. Later I gave her a present I’d been saving for her. A St. Joseph statue. She joined Catherine Newman, Amy, and Stephanie who were decorating cupcakes for Isaac’s birthday. We all sang happy birthday and he was thrilled.

Shannon was so thoughtful. She came in with an enormous bouquet of Daffodils. It looked like she had picked a whole field of them. Her husband had chocolate, and her three kids brought new crayons.

I ushered them to the karaoke room, where Kiki was singing her ABC’s beautifully. The crowd was smitten with this extraordinary girl.

Sheri walked in wearing a Best Housekeeper medal around her neck. When her son, Ethan, saw me he thought I was Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars. He showed me his light saber.

Better Safe Than Sorry walked in right behind Shannon. She apologized for being late. Apprently, her new dog Bailey knocked over her Yucca plant. Then got caught up talking to her daughter on MSN. I asked her to explain what it means to talk to someone on MSN. I also thanked her for being my #1 supporter in NaNoWriMo. She’s a good egg.

Shane stopped the karaoke madnes and gave a 1578 word farewelll speech. We all clapped and gave him hugs. I can’t wait for his final post…..to come somtime this year. I hope he finds his About A Boy scene. Mostly because I love that movie.

After Shane’s speech Shelli started a volleyball game in the backyard. Boy was she spot on. After the game, she set up the playroom and took over the childcare. What a sweetie Shelli is. It must be that Minnesota air.

Cori cartwheeled through our hallway and then stopped and asked, “Where’s Norm?”

The doctors came with grandma. I’m not sure whose grandma she was, Sigmund, Carl or Alfreds. She was carrying a chocolate cheesecake and only handed it to me relectantly. “It was so pricey.” she sighed, cherishing it with her eyes. I immediately cut a slice for her.

Sleeping Mommy had just celebrated her sixth wedding anniversary. We hugged and talked about those six years, which she has written about in such raw, agonizingly beautiful ways. In many ways these six years, (not the marriage, but the years) brought her through hell and back, but look at what she accomplished. She gave birth to three children in six years. Three lives in six years. Talk about accomplishment. I reminded her of that. She is a a strong, smart cookie. I look forward to reading about her next six years.

Kevin’s band, Small Shiny Things started playing. Dancing started.

I screamed when I saw Arethusa and congratulated on her Law School acceptance letters. Then I sat her down to talk about New York City and Europe. I am so excited about her future, and yet….and yet, I feel like I’m going to lose her. I think I must be her mother but that makes me feel too old. Of course, I’m only 25, so we must be sisters instead.

“D” pulled up in a moving van. I peered into the cab. In addition to her and her husband, I saw a dog, three cats and a Gecko. She emptied everyone out and helped Shelli run the party daycare. This woman is moving (pun intended) in the right direction.

Sugar Mommy parked right behind her. Also with three kids. “STUPID GROUNDHOG” she shouted as she walked through the door. Then her husband ask her if he should heat up the Beef Stir Fry that they brought, and they both laughed naughtily.

Aka Monty gave me a hug and a high five as she walked in after Sugar Mommy. She looked to the party crowd and shouted, “How do bloggers do it?” “Bloggers do it in their underwear!” i shouted back. “God, I wish I could have a cigarette.” she later confided. “Wait, I have something better.” I said, and got Helga, a swedish massage therapist with strong man-hands and a bad temper. Scheize.

Catherine/Fountain Penran past doing her daily two-mile run. “I’ll be there, soon.” When she showed up later, she was riding a magnificent horse. “Sorry, sweetie, I don’t have the same views from my deck.” I said. “We can tie him up in front here.” Lima Bean helped hitch the horse.

Next came Muzikdude with the Duckslayers and Bunnybashers. They thought this was another Beer Exchange. Muzikdude’s mom was following him holding out a bowl of collard greens. He ignored her. I offered to try them. Not bad.

Zoe and Indigo came wearing Mickey Mouse hats. “Should I go to an accupuncturist?” she asked me. I thought it couldn’t hurt. We were both retraining ourselves to become left hand mousers on the computer. Carpal Tunnel symptoms.

“Anyone want any egg sandwhiches?” asked J. Star, wandering into the room. I did. We talked about Cincinnati. I asked her to give me a lesson on my new camera.

Elle had her two sons with her and asked me immediately if there were any grapes at the party. “Uh, No.” ‘Thank God!” she answered. Two scares in one year is enough for this strong, interesting, fun-loving soul.

Running2K had quieted down the party and in her fresh, effervescent way, asked everyone to mention something they were thankful for.

“I’m thankful for my three husbands! And Ferris Bueller!” shouted Jersey Girl with one arm around Billy Lane.

“I’m thankful for the Blog Olympics participants! And my new job!” said Barbara.

Kate ran down the hallway singing Tra-la-la in her beautiful free-spirited way and said, “I’m thankful that I passed my exam! And for my daughters, for football, and blogging….but not for lists.” I didn’t blame her.

Weary Hag added, “I’m thankful for my new husband, and that I’m going to the gym again.”

Mamacita, looking very much like a heroine, walked over to Genuine, put his arm around him and said, “I’m thankful for this man. Who is really only human, and has worked his butt off with the best intentions.”

Wendy walked in the door and said, “Wendy directed me here.” We welcomed her. I asked her what she was thankful for. “I’m thankful for movie tunes like Mrs. Robinson and Moon River.” I nodded enthusiastically.

Brenda said quietly, “I’m thankful for teenage and toddler girls. And for writing.”

David walked into the room. “I’m thankful that Miz S ate all the spaghetti because I’m not allowed to eat wheat and I love Spaghetti.” I’m sure Miz S was feeling thankful that she was still so damn sexy after eating all that spaghetti. Not to mention funny, kind, and naughty.

Carmi agreed that these were all beautiful sentiments. in his thoughtful, appreciative way, he had something nice to observe about all of us.

“I”m thankful for all of you,” I said.

And then I gave an awkwarly off-the-cuff speech.

(Audioblog cut out quite a few of my words so here is a transcription, without all the ums. I had no notes, so be kind.)

“Well thank you all for coming to my party. I don’t think under normal circumstances I am one to give a speech at a party of about 200 people, kids included. But, this is a special occasion. It’s my one year blogging anniversary. And I wanted to do somethng different. I have expressed through writing in many different posts what you all mean to me and what blogging has meant to me. I wanted to try to something different, to do that in the written (correction: spoken) word which I am not as good with I have a hard time finishing a sentence in the real world.

“A year ago for some I started entering old journal posts, for some strange reason, onto this blog. So that’s what you see the first day or so of posting. And then I started writing. I don’t really remember what I expected out of the thing. I certainly didn’t expect to care for all of you. I didn’t expect to get this many readers. I didn’t expect to enjoy reading your posts so much.

I do get frustrated with this whole process sometimes simply because my time is limited and I feel like I can’t keep up with it all, but I won’t quit because all of you, and also because it’s been a wonderful form of self expression for me and I think it has helped guide me and all of you have helped in that process too.

This is getting long. Let me thank you all. And to another great year. I hope to learn more about all the new people that I’ve met through this.

Thank you.”

Alas, it was time to say good-bye. As we watched everyone file into their cars, I kissed my husband’s sexy face and thanked him for tolerating my blogging. I remembered the look of horror a year earlier when he read my 100 Things and the first few items were about him. He no longer fears that I will start posting his old love letters on my blog.

“Thank You!” I told this lovely, sexy man.

“I’m proud of you,” he answered.

But just as he said this, we noticed that people were not driving away in their cars. One by one, they grabbed sleeping bags from their cars and filed into MommaK and Hoss’s front door.

A look of horror spread across my husband’s face. I was just glad the party was over.

I can’t wait to see DaddyK’s (K diddy?) face when he finds out.

See you all in the morning?

(Did I skip you? Please tell me and I’ll put you right in. Same goes for the blogroll. I did not intentionally exclude anyone.)